Nelson Central School

Nelson Central School is a state primary contributing school located in the inner city of Nelson at the top of the South Island of New Zealand teaching children of both genders aged 5 to 11 years.

Nelson Central School
Nelson Central School in 2011
Address
70 Nile Street, Nelson
Coordinates41.2774°S 173.2885°E / -41.2774; 173.2885
Information
TypeContributing Primary
MottoMāori: Ki Runga Rawa
Established1878
Ministry of Education Institution no.3209
PrincipalPip Wells
School roll424[1] (March 2020)
Socio-economic decile7
Websitenelsoncentral.school.nz

Location

Nelson Central School is situated in the city of Nelson, New Zealand, three blocks east of Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson.

Enrolment

As a primary contributing school, Nelson Central School sends pupils to Nelson Intermediate School, Nelson College for Girls Preparatory School and Nelson College Preparatory School. Nelson Central School enrols children between 5 and 11 years of age. Typically, about 50–60 five-year-old children start each year.

History
Nelson Central School from Nile St.

Nelson Central School is now the oldest school in New Zealand still functioning on its original unitary site. Consequently, its main building and Renwick House (named after Dr Thomas Renwick) are of architectural interest. The site of the present school was purchased by the Nelson Education Board in 1893 for £1600. The official opening ceremony of the main school building was held on Monday 23 June 1930.[2] The school building is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category II historic structure. The building was added to the register on 25 November 1982, with register number 1596.[3]

(The first school in the new Pākehā settlement of Nelson had opened in March 1842, "in a house built of toi toi", just a few months after the New Zealand Company's first settlers landed.)

Māori

The number of Māori children enrolled at the school is proportionately greater than would be expected given the total Māori population in the City of Nelson. This may be due to the presence of four Māori language immersion classes with a full-time Kaiarahi reo within Nelson Central.

All students take part in the school's Mana Maori programme as required under the Treaty of Waitangi and all students have the opportunity to acquire some knowledge of Maori language and culture.

References
  1. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  2. "Official Opening of New Central School at Nelson". The Evening Post. 25 June 1930. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  3. "Nelson Central School". Register of Historic Places. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  • Nelson Central School Board of Trustees (2007). Annual Performance Statement to the Community. (self published).
  • Gee, Maurice (1978). 1878–1978 Nelson Central School – A History. Maurice Gee.
  • Nelson Central School Board of Trustees (2007). Board of Trustees Newsletter – Term 2 – 2007. (self published).
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